dkrc Chapter 98 Coffee Shop
Chapter 98 Coffee Shop
The coffee shop in the west of the city is called "Slow Time." Its decor is artsy, with warm yellow lighting, solid wood tables and chairs, and the aroma of freshly ground coffee filling the air. Zuo Cheng arrived ten minutes early and chose a corner seat facing the entrance.
Zhou Mingyuan arrived on time. He was in his forties, lean, and wearing a dark gray turtleneck sweater. He didn't bring an assistant. When he sat down, his movements were steady, and his eyes were calm yet sharp, like someone accustomed to the negotiating table.
"Mr. Zuo, it's an honor to meet you." Zhou Mingyuan smiled and extended his hand.
"Hello, Mr. Zhou." Zuo Cheng shook hands with him.
The two each ordered a coffee. Zhou Mingyuan didn't rush into the main topic, but instead chatted about the weather and changes in Hangzhou, as if testing Zuo Cheng's attitude.
Zuo Cheng remained calm and chatted for a few moments before getting to the point: "President Zhou, Xingchen Technology has contacted 402 twice in a row. They can't just be after coffee, can they?"
Zhou Mingyuan smiled. "Mr. Zuo is indeed straightforward. Then I won't beat around the bush either." He took a document from his briefcase and pushed it in front of Zuo Cheng. "Starry Sky Technology wants to cooperate deeply with 402 in the field of the Internet of Things, specifically focusing on the integration of brain-computer interfaces and the Internet of Things."
Zuo Cheng opened the file and quickly browsed through it. The framework of the cooperation plan was clear: Xingchen Technology would provide the hardware and algorithms for the brain-computer interface, while 402 would provide the connectivity and scheduling capabilities of the IoT platform. Combined, the two could enable direct control of IoT devices by the human brain.
"Brain-computer interface controlling the Internet of Things?" Zuo Cheng closed the file. "This is a cutting-edge direction, but where is the market demand?"
"Medical rehabilitation," Zhou Mingyuan said. "There are tens of millions of paralyzed patients worldwide. Their biggest need isn't a cure, but independent living. If they could control smart devices in their homes using brain-computer interfaces—turning on lights, closing windows, adjusting the temperature, calling the elevator—these seemingly insignificant things to us would be a matter of dignity for them. This market is worth at least tens of billions."
Zuo Cheng was silent for a few seconds. He hadn't thought of this direction, but it certainly made sense. The ultimate form of the Internet of Things is not just device interconnection, but human-machine interconnection. Brain-computer interfaces are the final link.
"Is it technically feasible?" Zuo Cheng asked.
"Xingchen has been researching brain-computer interfaces for eight years, and the accuracy of signal acquisition and analysis has reached a practical level," Zhou Mingyuan said confidently. "However, device control requires a stable, low-latency IoT platform as a bridge. We surveyed all the domestic IoT platforms, and 402's 9-millisecond latency is the only one that meets the requirements."
Zuo Cheng's heart skipped a beat. The 9-millisecond latency was a technological barrier he had built using his advanced technology. Now, this barrier had attracted an unexpected partner. Brain-computer interfaces combined with the Internet of Things—if this could truly be achieved, it wouldn't just be a commercial breakthrough, but a leap in technological paradigm.
"What's the cooperation method?" Zuo Cheng asked.
"Joint research and development. Xingchen will be responsible for the hardware and signal processing of the brain-computer interface, while 402 will be responsible for interface adaptation and edge scheduling optimization for the IoT platform. Intellectual property rights will be jointly owned, and commercial profits will be distributed according to contribution ratios."
Zuo Cheng didn't answer immediately. The cooperation plan sounded very tempting—brain-computer interfaces combined with the Internet of Things—a completely new field. But he had a concern.
"Mr. Zhou, if I may be frank, the regulatory policies in the field of brain-computer interfaces are still unclear. What if the policies tighten? Could 402 be dragged into this?"
Zhou Mingyuan nodded: "President Zuo's consideration is very thorough. We've also thought about this issue. Therefore, the cooperation plan includes a risk isolation clause: 402 will only be responsible for technical support at the IoT platform level and will not be involved in the production and sales of brain-computer interface hardware. Even if policies change, 402 will not be affected."
Zuo Cheng went through the document again, carefully reviewing the wording of the risk isolation clause. The clause was written quite rigorously, and the boundaries of liability for 402 were very clear.
"I need time to consider it," Zuo Cheng said. "This direction for cooperation is very interesting, but I can't make a decision without discussing it with the team."
"Of course." Zhou Mingyuan stood up. "President Zuo, regardless of whether we ultimately cooperate or not, I'd like to say one more thing." His gaze became serious. "402's technical capabilities far surpass your competitors, and this isn't flattery. What you're doing reminds me of the early days of Xingchen Technology."
Zuo Cheng's heart skipped a beat. Was Zhou Mingyuan's statement a compliment or a test?
"Mr. Zhou, you flatter me." Zuo Cheng remained calm. "402 is still just a small company."
"Small companies won't produce a 9-millisecond delay." Zhou Mingyuan smiled, picked up his briefcase, and said, "Looking forward to good news from President Zuo." Then he turned and left the coffee shop.
Zuo Cheng sat there, holding his now-cold coffee, lost in thought for a long time. The streetlights outside the window came on, and the customers in the café came and went.
Zhou Mingyuan's words alerted him. A 9-millisecond latency was indeed a technological barrier for 402 errors, but within the industry, this figure was far too advanced. For a startup less than two years old to develop technology faster than industry leaders was bound to attract attention.
Xingchen Technology isn't the only company to have noticed 402. Industry giants like Huaxin, Blue Bay, and Ginkgo Capital have all been in contact with 402. But Xingchen Technology differs from these other companies; their focus isn't just on commercial value, but also on a kind of inexplicable curiosity.
Brain-computer interfaces. Zuo Cheng recalled the unactivated AI branch on the technology tree. If the AI branch were activated, 402's computing power would be greatly enhanced, and the integration of brain-computer interfaces and the Internet of Things might truly be realized. But now is not the time.
He stood up and walked out of the coffee shop. The city of Hangzhou was ablaze with lights in the twilight, and cars streamed along the streets. Zuo Cheng took out his phone and sent Yu Ying a message: "The meeting with Xingchen Technology has ended. They want to collaborate on brain-computer interfaces."
Yu Ying replied: "Brain-computer interface? That's so sci-fi. What do you think?"
"I'm very interested, but there's no rush. Let the team assess the technical feasibility first."
"Yes, you always plan things out carefully before you act."
Zuo Cheng smiled and put away his phone. Planning before acting was his style, and also the confidence his technological foundation gave him. Behind every decision was guidance from the system. But ultimately, the final decision always rested with him.
Back in his office, he locked the collaboration proposal in a drawer. This wasn't urgent; he wanted the open platform to run some more, to let the flywheel spin a little longer. But a seed had already been planted in his mind: he would return to the field of brain-computer interfaces sooner or later.